Expansible roll shaft



Jan. 13, 1953 T. A. MOARN 2,6255338 EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l 72 l fibm/v am Jan; 13;195'3 T. A. Mc R 2,625,338

EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8, 1951 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 13,1953 T. A. MCARN EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT Filed March 8, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 5 I I'll lllnllllllllllllllll. II

llllll lllll lll Patented Jan. 13, 1953 EXPANSIBLE ROLL SHAFT TheodoreA. McArn, Downingtown, Pa., assignor to Downingtown ManufacturingCompany, 'Downingtown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationMarch a, 1951, Serial No. 214,494

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inremovable shafts for winding rolls, for example, paper, in a papermaking machine. More particularly the present invention relates toimprovements in shaft constructions having means for maintaining theshaft in an expanded condition during the winding operation and forcontracting the shaft when it is desired to remove it from the rollwound thereon.=

In the manufacture of paper, it is customary to provide means at the endof a paper making machine for winding the paper into a roll as it leavesthe machine, and it has been the practice to construct such shafts sothat they may be expanded and contracted as desired. Prior to thepresent invention such shaft constructions, for the most part, utilizedcam or wedge devices of various form which could be operated to expandthe shaft for the winding operation and then contracted to reduce theshaft diameter and permit its easy removal from the roll. This type ofexpansible shaft construction is not too satisfactory since the workingparts frequently become jammed necessitating the use of a hammer toforce the shaft out of the roll with resulting damage to the shaft.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object .comparativelysimplified construction having substantially no moving parts and whichis less costly than prior expansible shaft constructions. These andother objects of the present inven- V tion and the various features anddetails of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter morefully set forth and described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section of adrum winder supporting an expansible roll shaft made in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the drum winderillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view partialembodying the presentinvention;

4 with the expansible roll shaft in a contracted position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, Fig. 4 showing the meansfor securing the rubbe inner-tube to the central shaft; v

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 7 with the rollin an expanded condition; and,

Fig. 1'0 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the surfaceof the expansible roll shaft showing the means for limiting the expandedand contracted positions.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1and 2, reference numeral I0 designates generally a drum winderofconventional type comprising a frame II and a pair of drum rolls l2 andI 3 supported by the frame I I in a spaced parallel relationship.Positioned above and centrally between the drum rolls [2 and I3 is anexpansible roll shaft H made in accordance with the present invention.The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in brackets 15 carried by the frame II and adapted for relative vertical movement therewith as the paperroll, wound on the shaft l4 increases in diameter.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the expansible roll shaft l4comprises a tubular central shaft I! which extends coaxially the fulllength of the shaft H. A pair of collars l8 are adjustably secured toone end of the central shaft I! by means of set screws l9 and preventlongitudinal shifting of the roll shaft with respect to the brackets IS.

The shaft illustrated in the drawings comprises a split outer expansibletubular shell 2| which is secured to one side of the central shaft H inthe manner shown in Fig. 6, and an expansible rubber inner-tube 22 whichis positioned between the inner shaft l1 and the outer shell 2|. (SeeFig. 7.) The outer shell 2| is held in a spaced relationship with thecentral shaft I! by means of collars 23 positioned eccentrically on thecentral shaft H as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. A

3 pin 24 extends transversely through the central shaft beneath each ofthe collars 23, and is secured thereto by means of welds as indicated at25. A screw 26 threaded into the pin 24 is provided to secure the outershell 2| tightly against the eccentric collar 23.

Diametrically opposite the point where the outer shell 2| is secured tothe central shaft I1 is a slot 21 extending the full length of the outershell. the outer shell 2| from one end to the central portion and thenback towards the other 'end. This angular positioning of the slot 21prevents a ridge being formed in theroll :of paper wound on the shaft Il. A cover plate 28 is provided which is secured to the underside of theouter shell at one edge of the slot 21 and extends transversely acrossthe slot. The cover plate 28' may be fastened to the outer shell 2|,forexample, by welds as indicated at 29. A resilient material, such assteel, properly heat treated, is used-for the outer shell 2|, and theshell normally returns to and remains in its contracted position asindicated in Fig. '7 due to its inherentresiliency. A plurality of pins3| secured to the cover plate 28 and extending outwardly therefrom intocircumferential slots 32 in the outer shell 2| limit the expanded andcontracted position of the outer shell.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the expansiblerubber inner-tube 22 has reduced portions at each end and at itsmidpoint secured to the central shaft ll by means of wire 34 wrappedtightly around the inner-tube 22. central shaft H to preventlongitudinal movement of the wire 3% and inner tube 22 with respect .tothe shaft H. In order to expand the shaft 4,

air is admitted under pressure centrally of the shaft 51 and from thereto the expansible rubber trolling the air pressure interiorly of theshaft l1 and of the expansible rubber inner-tube 22. Positionedco-axially along the shaft H and extending outwardly therefrom is asleeve 40 adapted to prevent the valve 39 ,frombeingdamaged. The airadmitted under pressure centrally of the shaft ll is allowed to escapefrom the shaft .11 through openings 4| therein and react on theexpansible rubber inner-tube 22. When air is passed throughthe airvalve39, the inner-tube 22 is caused to expand, which in turn expands theouter shell 2|. The outward expansion of the shell 2| is limited by thestops 3| as previously' mentioned. Opening the valve 39 allows the airto escape from the inner tube 22, in turn permitting the outer shell 2|to contract to its normal position.

In operaticn, the expansible roll shaft is placed on the bearings of thedrum winderin an expanded condition and the paper (not shown) is woundthereon. After the roll of paper has reached its desired size and isremoved from the drum winder, the valve 39 is opened thus permitting theexpansible roll shaft M to contract and allowing the shaft i l to befreely withrawn from the roll.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the present inventionprovides a novel expansible roll shaft which will always return to thecon- The slot 2'! is disposed angularly along Under-cut portions areprovided on the tracted position when desired and which may be easilyremoved from the roll of paper. Furthermore, the present inventionprovides a novel expan-sible roll shaft which is substantially moredurable than the present type of roll shafts and which will not bedamaged by heavy knocks or blows.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustratedand described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to suchdisclosures, and changes and modificaatone edge of said slot andextending transversely across said slot; an inflatable tubular linersu'rrounding'said inner shaft and operable when inflated to expand saidouter shell, a valve secured in one of said plugs for controllingpassage of a'gaseous medium interiorly of said inner shaft and throughsaid outlet openings therein into said liner to inflate the same, andpins secured to'said cover plate projecting into circumferential slotsin said outer shell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

2. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular inner shafthaving a plurality of outlet openings therein, plugs secured in airtight relation at'each end of said inner shaft, an expansible'tubularouter shell positioned about said inner shaft and having a slotextending lengthwise therein to allow the 'outer shell to be expandedfrom'a normally contracted 'condition,

means mounting said outer shell in spaced circumscribing relation tosaidinner shaft, a cover plate secured to the underside of said outer shellat one" edge of said slot and extending transversely across said slot,an inflatable tubular liner surrounding-said inner shaft and operablewhen inflated to=expand said outer shell, a valve secured in one of saidplugs for controlling passage of a gaseous medium 'interiorly of saidinner shaft and through said outlet openings therein into said liner toinflate the same, and pins secured to said cover plate rojecting intocircumferential slots in said outer shell to limit expansion ofthe'outer shell.

;3. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular'innershaft having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a, plurality ofspacers eccentrically mounted on said inner shaft, an expansible tubularouter shell positioned about said inner shaft and having a slotextending "lengthwise therein to allow the outer shell'to be'expandedfrom a normally contracted condition, means on said outer shelldiametrically opposite said slot securing said outer shell to saideccentric spacers so that the outer shell is eccentri'c with respect toinner shaft in the contracted condition and concentric with the innershaft in its expanded condition, a cover plate secured to the undersideof said outer shell atone edge of "the slot andextendingtransverselyacross said slot, an inflatable tubular lining interiorly ofsaid outer shell and surrounding said inner shaft operable when inflatedto expand said shell, means to inflate said liner, and pins secured tosaid cover plate projecting into circumferential slots in said outershell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

4. A shaft for winding material thereon comprising a tubular inner shafthaving a plurality of outletopenings therein, plugs secured in airtightrelation at each end of said inner shaft,'

a plurality of spacers eccentrically mounted on said inner shaft, anexpansible tubular outer shell positioned about said inner shaft andhaving a slot extending lengthwise therein to allow the outer shell tobe expanded from a normally contracted condition, means on said outershell diametrically opposite said slot securing said outer shell to saideccentric spacers so that the outer shell is eccentric with respect toinner shaft in the contracted condition and concentric with the innershaft in its expanded condition, a cover plate secured to the undersideof said outer shell at one edge of the slot and extending transverselyacross said slot, an inflatable tubular lin- 6 ing interiorly of saidouter shell and surrounding said inner shaft operable when inflated toexpand said shell, a valve secured in one of said plugs for controllinpassage of a gaseous medium interiorly of said inner shaft and throughsaid outlet openings therein into said liner to inflate the same, andpins secured to said cover plate projecting into circumferential slotsin said outer v shell to limit expansion of the outer shell.

THEODORE A. MCARN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

